Washington – Intense grassroots pressure around the country, led by the advocacy group Food & Water Watch and allies, has succeeded in defeating an effort by Congressional Republicans to cancel a key drinking water safety rule requiring the replacement of all toxic lead water pipes in most communities across the country within a decade.

A Joint Resolution was introduced in February that would have repealed the Biden administration’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) using the Congressional Review Act. The resolution indicated House Republicans’ clear intention to advance the plan to repeal this strong public health standard. Today was the last day for Republicans to advance the proposal under the special fast track procedures for the Senate under the Congressional Review Act. 

It is now imperative that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin follow through with the defense of the LCRI from an industry lawsuit in federal court and not delay this important public health protection from going into effect.

Food & Water Watch led rallies at the offices of key Republican Congress members in the Northeast, calling on each of them to publicly denounce this lead safety rollback plan. In particular, multiple actions were held at the offices of Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17), Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (PA-7) and Rep. Tom Kean (NJ-7), and two of these members committed to oppose the resolution. 

“Grassroots people power has defeated this dangerous attempt by House Republicans to strip away a key water safety rule to eliminate toxic lead services lines ,” said Mary Grant, water program director at Food & Water Watch. “Building on this victory for public health and common sense, we demand that Administrator Zeldin carry out his responsibility to protect drinking water and reject attempts to roll back the regulation or delay it from going into effect. Without compromise, every person deserves safe, lead-free water.”

In addition to replacing lead pipes, the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) also require more rigorous testing of drinking water and a lower threshold for requiring communities to take action against lead exposure in water – from 15 ppb to 10 ppb. Republicans sought to use the Congressional Review Act to throw out the LCRI. Under the Congressional Review Act, the Senate had until May 8, the 75th session day, to repeal the regulation under a simple majority vote. After this date, the resolution requires 60 votes in the Senate to avoid the filibuster, effectively rendering it dead. 

Lead service lines are the main source of lead in drinking water, and the EPA estimates that 9 million homes are still served through these lead lines. There is no safe level of lead in drinking water; it is especially dangerous for children. Exposure can lead to developmental disorders, damage to the nervous system and blood cells, and more. In 2021, out of one million children in the U.S. tested, half showed detectable levels of lead in their blood. Lead exposure is much more likely for poorer children and children of color, reinforcing historical inequities.